Eat or Starve, by Martha Thomases – Brilliant Disguise | @MDWorld

September 1, 2012 Martha Thomases 10 Comments

A recent study has debunked the theory that drastically reducing one’s caloric intake will increase one’s longevity.

Because this is science, and because scientists also get emotionally attached to their theories, there is still debate on the subject.  However, when scientists disagree, they do more studies.  They look to establish more, not fewer facts.  

Since I’m not a scientist, I was mostly concerned about whether or not this meant I could eat more.  Don’t misunderstand me.  I don’t starve.  I eat much more than the 800-1200 calories that define the starvation diet.  It’s just that now, I don’t have to feel quite so guilty about it.  Eating another slice of pizza isn’t going to take years off my life.

And, in any case, those extra years are old-age years.  It’s not like I get extra strong, fit 16-year old years, with a body that bounces back from little sleep and sunburn.  Living longer means being old longer, with aches and pains and hair growing in odd new places.  

(Which I would still prefer to dying.  At least so far.)

The problem with our national discourse about food is that we don’t understand the scientific method.  Each of us is conducting a life-long experiment to see what combination of nutrition and pleasure gives us the best quality of life available to our unique systems.

It’s not a question that will ever be settled.  The experiment is different for each of us, every day.  For example, twenty years ago, I could drink coffee all day long and still fall asleep whenever I wanted.  A cup of coffee after dinner was no problem.  Today, I can’t have a cup of coffee after lunch.

Americans don’t like situations like this, where this isn’t one single answer for everyone.  We also don’t like answers that don’t make a difference right this second.  Unfortunately, that’s not the way science works.  It’s especially not the way biology works.

Over the decades, I’ve learned what foods I like, and what foods like me.  I may be able to eat that extra piece of pizza without shortening my life, but it might upset my stomach  and give me bad dreams.  I love onion rings, but they make me feel lethargic, so I only eat them when I’m prepared to make that trade.  Most diet and nutrition books advise eating a big breakfast, but if I do that, I don’t feel energized and ready to face the world.  I feel like going back to bed.

I’ve also learned that the immediate sensation of pleasure that I feel when I eat something is not the only consideration.  What my tastebuds like and what my body needs to feel good are two different things.  With age, I’ve been able to find out where they overlap.  Yay, blueberries!

Another recent study, also reported in The New York Times, looked at our attitudes at that other national bugaboo, exercise.  It found that if people expected exercise to make them thinner, or sexier, or add years to their lives, they were more likely to give up than people who expected exercise to make them feel better.  This has certainly been true of my experiences.  I work out an average of five times a week (plus the New York walking lifestyle).  

It doesn’t make me look like a model.  It does prevent me from getting a gun and heading to the Empire State Building.

Media Goddess Martha Thomases likes her pizza with eggplant,mushrooms, and extra garlic.